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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 9 March 2023
New Mexico may curb paramilitaries near southern U.S. border

By MORGAN LEE told legislators this week
Associated Press that prosecutors don’t
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Leg- have adequate tools to
islators in New Mexico are address militarized groups
advancing legislation to that can pose a danger to
rein in paramilitary patrols public protesters and au-
that have popped up in re- thorized law enforcement.
cent years to halt migrants The bill from Lara defines a
near the international bor- paramilitary organization
der with Mexico and at a as a group of three or more
protest over a statue of a people with a command
Spanish conquistador. structure aimed at func-
The bill places New Mex- tioning in public as a com-
ico among several states bat, enforcement or securi-
weighing changes this year ty unit. Banned paramilitary
to restrictions on paramili- activities also include inter-
tary organizations. fering with government op-
Lawmakers in Oregon and erations or a government
Vermont also are consid- proceeding and actions
ering initiatives aimed at that deprive others of their
limiting activities by private Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, rights. Paramilitary groups
June 15, 2020, in Albuquerque, N.M.
militarized groups. Legisla- Associated Press also would be prohibited
tors in Idaho are moving in from posturing deceptively
the other direction by ad- injury or death with provi- vate firearms training or Mexico at Sunland Park, as peace officers.
vancing a bill to repeal a sions regarding intimida- New Mexico’s relatively and in 2020 when men At Sunland Park, the Unit-
state law banning private tion. The bill includes felony permissive gun laws that with long guns and tactical ed Constitutional Patriots
militias, despite criticism penalties including prison. allow both open carry of equipment showed up at were eventually pressured
that the move could dan- The bill emerged Mon- firearms and concealed a chaotic protest in Albu- into leaving by local law
gerously embolden exist- day from House commit- handguns with permit and querque about a statute of enforcement amid ac-
ing paramilitary groups in tee vetting for a possible training requirements. early Spanish settler Juan cusations of trespassing
the region. A narrow ban floor vote, with the back- “That’s going to be up to de Oñate, who is both re- on railroad property. One
on municipal-run paramili- ing of Democrats. Republi- the district attorney, wheth- vered and reviled. member of the group was
tary groups would remain can House legislators have er they do an investigation The armed group in Albu- convicted of impersonat-
in place. raised concerns that the ... (to) find out if they are querque known as the New ing a federal officer, while
Democratic state Rep. proposal could interfere connected in any way, if Mexico Civil Guard was re- another was convicted on
Raymundo Lara of Sunland with neighborhood-watch there’s some kind of com- cently barred by a state federal firearms charges.
Park is cosponsoring the style groups that respond mand structure,” he said. district court judge from Armed civilian groups
New Mexico initiative and to crime or limit opportuni- Lara said the proposal re- publicly acting as a military have been an intermit-
says it gives district attor- ties for businesses in New sponds to incidents in 2019 unit without authorization. tent presence on the bor-
neys new tools and discre- Mexico that have provided in which armed members James Grayson, a chief der for years, portraying
tion by making it a crime for tactical training to visiting of the United Constitutional deputy state attorney gen- themselves as auxiliaries to
armed paramilitary organi- security forces. Patriots stopped migrants eral who previously worked the U.S. Border Patrol and
zations to engage in public Lara said the proposal near the international bor- on the case against the operating in areas where
patrols capable to causing doesn’t interfere with pri- der in southernmost New New Mexico Civil Guard, agents are not stationed.q

Boston council passes proposal aimed at tackling rising rent

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston prevent homelessness. sumer price index, plus 6%, ants who were facing rent briela Coletta said, adding
City Council on Wednes- Under Mayor Michelle Wu’s or a maximum increase of increases upwards of 100% that rents have increased
day overwhelmingly ap- proposal, known as a home 10% whichever is lower. in some neighborhoods. 227% since 2011 in East
proved a proposal from the rule petition, the maximum The measure also provides Many also spoke of getting Boston, which is part of her
mayor to cap rent prices as allowable annual rent in- other rental protections, in- calls from residents who district. “Bad actors who
part of an effort to address crease would be based cluding requiring that evic- complained about signifi- take advantage of a bullish
rising housing costs and on the change in the con- tions be for cause such as cant rent increases they rental market can and do
not paying rent. can’t afford and felt the price gouge in a way that
“This is a monumental act proposal would be critical is displacing hard working
for the City of Boston,” said in giving them some stabil- individuals who just want
City Councilor Ricardo Ar- ity. to be able to live in this city
royo, who supported the According to the real es- and contribute to the local
proposal. “I commend the tate company Zillow, the economy.”
mayor for moving forward Boston metro area is the The proposal would also
with a rent stabilization fifth most expensive metro exempt owner-occupied
plan to address what has area in the country. Typical properties with six units
been and is an ongoing, rents in Boston have gone or fewer — including the
long standing issue of price up over the past year by three-family homes that dot
gouging and rent gouging 8.1%. the city’s neighborhoods.
and displacement of resi- “Boston is increasingly out Also exempt would be any
dents of the City of Boston.” of reach for a majority of new apartment buildings
Several council members our seniors, immigrant pop- built during the first 15 years
Tenants’ rights advocates demonstrate in front of the Edward W. said they were moved by ulations, families and indi- after being issued a certifi-
Brooke Courthouse on Jan. 13, 2021, in Boston. earlier testimony from ten- viduals,” City Councilor Ga- cate of occupancy.q
Associated Press